EXETER CITY  0
HARTLEPOOL UNITED 2
(Watson 8, Williams 56) 

Exeter City (4-4-2)
S. Fraser N. WhitworthA WatsonM BurrowsS Goff. G BreslanG CroninK Ampadu (Richardson 59)A RoscoeS Flack (L Afful 69)S McCarthy. (G Tomlinson 58)
Substitutes (not used)N Murphy (gkP Read

Bookings: Roscoe, Flack, Ampadu, Afful

Hartlepool United (4-4-2):

A WilliamsP ArnsionG LeeC WestwoodM Robinson, Coppinger (A Boyd 53)R HumphreysD Clarke. P SmithG Watson K Henderson 72). E Williams (P Stephenson 85)
Substitutes (not used)M Hollund (gk)G Simms

Booking: Stephenson.

Referee: P Armstrong Thatcham)

Attendance: 3,595 

Match report from the Western Morning News by STUART JAMES

FOOTBALL: McCarthy misses penalty as City fail to halt rivals' relentless progress

Exeter refuse to spoil Pool's play-off party.

EXETER City again played the part of charitable hosts as they brought the curtain down on their Nationwide League Third Division campaign in disap- pointing fashion at St James' Park on Saturday. Two years after Shrewsbury left St James' Park on the final day of the season with a win that ensured them league survival, a 2-0 defeat to Hartlepool saw City finish in 16th place in the table and their guests march into the play-offs which ensures their season will go into extra time. It was a day when everything went right for Hartlepool. Cheered on by a boisterous 1,000-strong following, not only did they win, but they saw Sean McCarthy miss a penalty with the score at 1-0 and Shrewsbury lose at home to Luton enabling them to snatch that highly sought after seventh place from the Shrews grasp. 

Although City matched Hartlepool for long periods, the game hinged on two decisions. which ultimately cost City any chance of getting something from the match. "The lads thought the first goal was blatant handballbut I couldn't see from the bench whether it was or wasn't," City boss John Cornforth said

The other turning point was the penaltyIf Sean had scored I think we would have gone on and won the game, but obvi- ously he missed it and better players than Sean have missed them before, but it was a dis- appointing way to end the sea- sonHowever, I'm proud of my players, we have had a great season and we will kick-start for next year." The Exeter boss did send an ominous warning to certain members of his squad though. "Two or three of those players playing today will not play for Exeter City again,he added. "I'm disappointed with the way we have finished the season and finishing in 16th place is very disappointing for me, but it happensWe have had injuries, suspensions and we have had to dig in." Cornforth, whose squad was already down to the bare bones, was forced to shuffle his pack further as Chris Curran and Arjan van Heusden were ruled out of the clash through injury. Neil Whitworth stepped in for the suspended Paul Buckle at right-back, Mark Burrows partnered Alex Watson in the middle and Shaun Goff was given his home debut at left- back as Cornforth reverted to his preferred 4-4-2 formation. With eight minutes on the clock, Hartlepool broke down Exeter's fragile rearguardStuart Fraser fumbled Paul Smith's effort and Gordon Watson pounced to blast the ball into the roof of the net. City protested with referee Paul Armstrong that Watson had handled and Andy Roscoe was shown a yellow card for arguing. He was quickly followed into the referee's notebook by Steve Flack and Kwame Ampadu for two ugly tackles

City did have chances; McCarthy should have done bet- ter from Flack's deft knock down and Flack just failed to take advantage of Williams' fumble.

Whitworth butted straight at Williams and Roscoe curled a free kick over the bar before McCarthy had the chance to draw City level from the penalty spot after he had been tripped inside the box.

However, his soft effort trickled wide of Williams' right-hand post and City were made to pay as Hartlepool went up the other end and made it 2-0. Former Torquay striker Eifion Williams turned in from close range after Graeme Lee had headed a corner across goal. Geoff Breslan had numerous chances to at least pull a goal back, but he contrived to spurn them all to cap another forget- table last day for the Grecians. However, it was not such a forgettable day for City's striker-cum-defender Barry McConnell who swept the board with the player of the year awards. McConnell capped a fine season by lifting the Players Player, Supporters' Player and Junior, Red Army Player of the Year awards. "I'm very proud to get all threeIt means I must have done something right this year!" he quipped"I didn't expect itI don't know how the supporters see me really and that one surprised meI don't know how many people voted for me, but it's still nice!"